Communists of the world bid farewell to Mikis Theodorakis

Communist Parties from Russia to Chile and from Turkey to Mexico express their condolences for the death of the legendary Greek composer Mikis Theodorakis who died on September 2nd aged 96. 

In a message published on Twitter the President of the Republic of Cuba Miguel Díaz-Canel Bermúdez pays tribute to the late composer: 

"Mikis Theodorakis died and the world accompanies the mourning of Greece for one of the greatest musicians of all times. Cuba, which always had his militant solidarity, also mourns. Let the Canto General sound in his memory". 

Ukrainian communist leader Tamila Yabrova dies

Tamila Yabrova, President of the Union of Communists of Ukraine, editor-in-chief of the journal "Marxism and Modernity", passed away on September 3rd. Her death was announced by the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Greece (KKE).

Yabrova was an economist who fought passionately against the counter-revolutionary process in the Soviet Union which led to the restoration of capitalism. She participated actively in the "Marxist Platform of the CPSU" movement and in the effort for the re-organization of the communist movement in the territories of the USSR.

Mikis Theodorakis: I want to leave this world as a communist

Mikis Theodorakis, anticipating the end of his life, had contacted by telephone the Secretary General of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Greece, Dimitris Koutsoumbas, giving him the stigma of his last wishes.

In his personal letter on October 5, 2020, to Dimitris Koutsoumbas, he wrote: "Now at the end of my life, at the time of reckoning, the details fade from my mind and remain the big picture. So I see that my most critical, strong and mature years were spent under the banner of the KKE. That is why I want to leave this world as a communist."

Statement of the KKE on the death of Mikis Theodorakis

In a lengthy statement, the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Greece (KKE) pays farewell to Mikis Theodorakis, the world-renowned  Greek composer who died on Thursday morning aged 96. 

 

Statements concerning the death of Mikis were also issued by the Communist Youth of Greece (KNE), the All-Workers Militant Front (PAME), the National Union of Fighters of the National Resistance and the Democratic Army of Greece (PEAEA– DSE), Trade Unions and Associations.

The full statement of the KKE reads:

Turkish Communist Party calls for rally in Istanbul on 12th September: Şimdi sosyalizm zamanı!

The Communist Party of Turkey (TKP) has called for a rally in Kartal Square, Istanbul, on Sunday, September 12, 2021, saying, "Do not delay, do not linger, do not settle for less!” The statement said, "If we do not want to live in a country where our resources are plundered, people become worthless and nature is slaughtered for the sake of profit, we must get rid of this order first.”

The statement of TKP, which said, "This country has not a day left to lose," is as follows;

Afghanistan Crisis: Statements by Communist Parties

Since the beginning of the rapid developments in Afghanistan and the comeback of Taliban in the power, Communist and Workers' Parties from all over the world have issued statements concerning the situation in the country. 

 

The vast majority of statements refer to the disastrous role of US-EU imperialism, the military intervention in 2001, as well as the immense responsibilities of the U.S. and European governments for supporting the rise of Taliban in the 1980s, primary in the war against the Democratic Republic of Afghanistan. 

Read here the statement of the Communist Party of Greece (KKE). 

All Greek governments supported the imperialist wars in Afghanistan, says KKE MEP

The hypocrisy of the U.S, NATO and EU, as well as the responsibilities of the Greek governments for the current situation in Afghanistan were highlighted by the Communist Party (KKE) MEP Kostas Papadakis during an interview on “Real FM” radio on Tuesday 24 August.

Papadakis, who is also a member of the Central Committee of the KKE, pointed out that those powers which today present Taliban as potential partners are the same ones which, some years ago, presented them as a threat and used them for reactionary changes against the Afghan people. The KKE MEP said that these powers financed and equipped Taliban in the war against the Soviet Union and the people's revolution in Afghanistan. 

Swaziland's dictatorship intensifies brutality against anti-monarchy protesters

On Sunday night, 15 August 2021, King Mswati’s soldiers tossed a young man, Mcebo Mamba, into a raging fire and severely assaulted him with sjamboks.

The assault followed a protest action in Zombodze Emuva in the Shiselweni region, Swaziland, also known as Eswatini. During the protest, burning tyres had been placed on the road. The soldiers picked on Mamba, without any evidence as to his involvement in the burning and forced him into the fire.

Former KKE MP Antonis Skyllakos dies at 72

Antonis Skyllakos, a long time cadre of the Communist Party of Greece (KKE) and former MP, died today aged 72 after a heart attack. 

Born in Larissa in 1949, Skyllakos studied Law in Athens and participated actively in the anti-dictatorship movement. In 1974 he joined the Communist Youth (KNE) and in 1975 he became member of the KKE. 

He was a member of the Party's Central Committee from 1982 to 2009. 

Britain's Young Communist League holds its 50th Congress

Under the slogan "Our Congress, Our Struggle, Our Future", the Young Communist League of Britain (YCL), the youth wing of the Communist Party of Britain which was founded 100 years ago, in 1921, holds its 50th Congress this weekend.

On this occasion, the following article written by YCL's General Secretary Johnnie Hunter was published in "Challenge" magazine:

"Greetings and solidarity to all of the delegates attending the YCL’s historic 50th Congress this weekend at Ruskin House and to all the comrades and branches who have participated in Congress debate and discussion this year from the length and breadth of Britain.

Venezuelan communists on Maduro-opposition talks: A deal between elites

Nicolas Maduro and US-backed Juan Guaido.

In a statement concerning the talks between representatives of the Maduro government and the US-backed right-wing opposition in Mexico City, the Political Bureau of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Venezuela (PCV) talks about "deal between elites", denouncing the procedure as a "farce of a dialogue". The full statement of PCV is the following:

The Deal between Elites has been Consolidated in Mexico

Communist Parties of India: Joint statement on the situation in Afghanistan

In face of the situation in Afghanistan, the Communist Party of India (Marxist) and the Communist Party of India (CPI) have issued the following joint statement: 

On Afghanistan Situation 

The United States has suffered a humiliating defeat in Afghanistan. Twenty years after the toppling of the then Taliban regime, the Taliban are back in power. The collapse of the Ashraf Ghani led government and the National Army shows the hollowness of the nature of the State set up by the US and it's NATO allies. 

KKE statement on the developments in Afghanistan

Concerning the developments in Afghanistan and the resurgence of Taliban, the Press Bureau of the CC of the Communist Party of Greece (KKE) issued the following statement:

The rapid developments in Afghanistan following the collapse of the puppet government, which had emerged in the country after the imperialist intervention of the US, NATO, and their allies, and the rise to power of the Taliban obscurantist movement, which had multifarious support initially by the USA and other capitalist powers, show that the suffering of the Afghan people is endless.

Afghanistan: Taliban resurgence is a "made in USA" tragedy

By Nikos Mottas.

Chaos in Kabul as Taliban retake Afghanistan. Twenty years since the US-NATO imperialist intervention in the country, the consequences for the Afghani people are more than devastating. The slogans of “freedom”, “security”, “democracy” and “peace”, which the U.S imperialists and their allies used as a pretext for the 2001 military invasion, within the framework of the so-called “War against Terrorism”, were proved empty promises. 

India's 75th Independence Day: Article by D Raja

Our Independence and India Today

By D. Raja.

On this day of August 15, more than seven decades back, in 1947, our nation began her tryst with destiny. The political independence achieved by us is the result of decades of struggles by the people of our country. Recognising the exploitative nature of the British rule, people in various parts of our country started resisting the exploitation by colonial masters themselves much before organised platforms or political parties to lead them came into existence. People fought against British forces along with their native collaborators simultaneously at times. These spontaneous uprisings were ruthlessly suppressed leaving an indelible print on the collective memory of the people.

Lebanese Communist Party denounces attacks against the popular movement in Lebanon

In a letter published in solidnet.org, the Lebanese Communist Party shares information about the latest developments in the country, a year after the huge explosion in Beirut port. The letter reads:

Dear comrades and friends,

We send you this letter to inform you about the latest developments in Lebanon, especially after the brutal attack by the “Lebanese Forces”, a fascist party/militia in Lebanon against the demonstrators during the commemoration of the 1^st anniversary of the Beirut port huge explosion on August 4^th of 2020.

Cuba's example shone in Tokyo Olympics with 15 medals

 By Nikos Mottas

The performance of the Cuban athletes who took part in the XXXII Olympiad in Tokyo and achieved a total of 15 medals causes admiration and pride. 

Leaving behind much larger countries with rich tradition in sports, the small socialist Cuba with a population of 11 million people ranked 14th in the Olympic medal list, winning seven gold, three silver and five bronze medals.

Of course, this is not the first time that Cuba performs great in the Olympics; For many decades, despite the genocidal economic, trade and financial blockade imposed by the United States, the Island of the Revolution has triumphed in multiple Olympiads.

Greece fires: The KKE exposes the criminal responsibilities of all governments

“The responsible ones and the reason are known. The responsibilities of all governments are timeless”, says the Communist Party of Greece (KKE) concerning the ongoing disastrous fires of the last days in Evia, Attica and Peloponnese.

With info-graphics published on social media, the KKE exposes the responsibilities of all the Greek governments (both liberal and social democratic), including those of PASOK, New Democracy and SYRIZA. 

Tokyo Olympics: IOC's refusal to honor Hiroshima-Nagasaki bomb victims is a huge shame

The refusal of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to participate in the commemorative events for the 76th anniversary of the nuclear holocaust in Hiroshima and Nagasaki, consists an immense insult to the memory of the thousands of bomb's victims as well as to the Japanese people in general. 

Furthermore, the IOC decided not to call on athletes and officials to have a moment of silence during the Games at Olympic venues and elsewhere on August 6th, the day when the U.S. dropped the atomic bomb in Hiroshima 76 years ago. 

Greece fires: Remarks by the KKE General Secretary Dimitris Koutsoumbas

Extensive fires have raged in many parts of Greece, including in the outskirts of Athens, the island of Evia (Euboea) and Peloponnese with thousands of people fleeing as protracted heat wave turned forests into tinderboxes and flames threatened populated areas, electricity installations and historic sites. 

In a statement, the General Secretary of the CC of the Communist Party of Greece (KKE) Dimitris Koutsoumbas said:

“The members and the friends of the KKE, its deputies and those elected to regional and municipal councils are in battle positions against the wildfires, by the side of the people who are being tested once again.

Greek Communist Party MEP confirms solidarity with the government and people of Cuba

The member of the European Parliament, Lefteris Nikolaou-Alavanos, from the Communist Party of Greece (KKE), considers that the "long resistance of the Cuban people and their struggle against imperialist aggressiveness is an inspiration to the peoples of the whole world."

Today, when a political-media operation and destabilizing attempts orchestrated from the United States take place over Cuba, the Greek MEP reaffirms, in an exclusive interview, his "firm solidarity with the people, the Government and the Communist Party of Cuba" and his conviction of that "Cuba is not alone!", that "Cuba will win!"

South African Communist Party celebrates its centenary

The weekend 30 July – 1 August 2021 marks the 100th anniversary of the founding conference of the South African Communist Party (SACP) as the Communist Party of South Africa.

The SACP held a Special Centenary Central Committee meeting on Monday, 26 July 2021. The meeting discussed the current political situation in our country and the SACP Centenary Statement to be delivered by the Party General Secretary Dr Blade Nzimande on Sunday, 1 August 2021, during a hybrid rally scheduled to celebrate the 100th founding anniversary of the Party. 

A message from Tokyo: "Patria o Muerte! Venceremos!"

Photo: El Manifiesto

In one of the most promoted boxing duels of the Olympics, the multi-medalist Julio Cesar la Cruz defeated today 4-1 the Spanish nationalized Emmanuel Reyes. With this victory, Cuban boxing secured three podiums in the Tokyo Olympic Games.

At the close of Friday's bout, La Cruz landed punches in the short and medium distance and defended the attacks of Reyes, to merit the verdict of four of the five judges and thus continue on the road to the cruiserweight grand final.  The Cuban team captain will compete in the semifinals against Brazil's Abner Teixeira, who beat Jordan's Eishaish Hussein Iashaish 4-1.

47th KNE Festival to be held on 23-25 September in Athens

Under the slogan "Live, dare, move on - for the society of true freedom, Socialism", the 47th festival of the Communist Youth of Greece, known as KNE-Odigitis Festival, began its journey with numerous events throughout the country. 

The festival, which is travelling in many Greek cities and towns throughout July and August, includes political as well as cultural events. 

In the country's second largest city and a major port, Thessaloniki, the festivities will take place on September 16-18 at the open space of Karatasios multidisciplinacy park. Kyrillos Papastavrou, member of the KKE Political Bureau, will deliver a speech on the last day. 

Sieg für DKP! German Communist Party will participate in September's federal elections

Sieg für DKP! (Victory for DKP)! The German Communist Party will finally participate in the upcoming federal elections which are going to take place on September. The Federal Constitutional Court completely overturned the decision of the Federal Electoral Committee which did not recognize the party as such and subsequently did not allow it to take part in the electoral process.

According to jungewelt.de, the decision of the Federal Electoral Committee, which observers referred to as a "cold party ban", was challenged by the DKP on July 12 in Karlsruhe with a so-called non-recognition complaint.   

KKE blasts joint statement against Cuba signed by Ministers of Foreign Affairs

In a statement, the Communist Party of Greece (KKE) denounces the joint statement against Cuba signed by Foreign Ministers, including that of Greece.

Specifically, the Press Office of the CC of the KKE issued the following statement:

“The KKE denounces the despicable joint statement supporting the criminal plans of US imperialism against Cuba, signed by 21 Foreign Ministers, including the Greek Foreign Minister, N. Dendias. The joint statement, co-signed by the US Secretary of State, as well as the Foreign Ministers of a bloc of reactionary governments, such as of Israel, Brazil, Austria, Poland, Ukraine, the Baltic states, etc., adopts all the provocative pretexts of the Biden administration’s intervention plan against the people and the government of Cuba.

What does Putin fear? Communist Party candidate banned from running in Duma elections

CPRF's candidate Pavel Grudinin

Almost two months before the parliamentary elections in Russia, the Central Election Commission barred Pavel Grudinin, a candidate of the Communist Party of the Russian Federation (CPRF), from participating in the vote. 

Grudinin, who won 12% of votes when he challenged Vladimir Putin in the 2018 presidential election, was excluded from a candidate list because the Prosecutor's Office had found he held shares in a foreign company, news agencies reported. 

Slovenia's EU presidency falsifies history by organizing anti-communist conference

KKE-KNE protest at the Slovenian Embassy in Athens.

Members of the Communist Party of Greece (KKE) and the Communist Youth (KNE) protested in fron of the Slovenian Embassy in Athens on Friday morning, against the Slovenian Presidency's decision to hold an anti-communist international conference titled “in memory of the victims of totalitarian regimes”. 

 

This anti-historical event, which takes place in the framework of the annual anti-communist fiesta staged by the EU every August 23rd, provocatively equates communism with nazism.

2nd Congress of the Party of Communists USA

"The Party of Communists USA will open its 2nd Congress on 28 August 2021. Due to the pandemic, this congress will be held virtually. In the coming weeks, we will send an invitation to comrades around the world to view the congress proceedings. We are asking all the Communist and Workers' parties to send a message of greetings to the 2nd Congress of the Party of Communists USA", writes a statement signed by the Party's International Secretary Christopher Helali.

Europe floods: The tragic results of capitalist development

Europe's death toll from catastrophic flooding rose to at least 199 on Monday with hard-hit west Germany and Belgium reeling from the devastation. Nearly 300 people remain unaccounted for in Germany and Belgium, officials announced. 

There are at least 163 dead in Germany, according to authorities. The hardest-hit areas in Germany are Rhineland-Palatinate, where 117 have been killed in the flooding and in North Rhine-Westphalia, where at least 46 people died and 138 remain unaccounted for, the Koblenz Police and the German Ministry of Interior said.

Die Linke supported the ban of German Communist Party

On 9 July we wrote that the Federal Election Commission announced that the German Communist Party (DKP) will not be allowed to participate in September's Bundestag elections and at the same time will be deprived of its status as a political party. 

The pretext for this shameful decision was the alleged late submission of financial statements. 

Several Communist and Workers' Parties from across the world have strongly condemned the decision of the Commission and expressed its solidarity to the DKP. 

Fidel Castro — Why we don’t need more than one party

Excerpts from speech delivered by Comandante en Jefe Fidel Castro, July 26, 1988: 

There is one very essential idea, and that is never to forget where we are situated, which is not in the Black Sea, but in the Caribbean, not 90 miles from Odessa, but 90 miles from Miami, with a border on our own land, in an occupied part of our territory, with imperialism. Our people are in charge in our country; and our Party is responsible for its policy, its line, its defense.

Muhammad Naffa, former General Secretary of the Israeli Communist Party, passes away

The Politburo and the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Israel mourn the passing away of our comrade, author and communist leader Muhammad Naffa (Abu Hisham), to the Palestinian people and to all progressive forces in the country and world, and to the International Communist Movement. Comrade Naffa left us yesterday, July 15th 2021.

Comrade Naffa has spent his entire life on the path of struggle and activism, fighting against war and occupation, racial discrimination, against imperialism, colonialism and reactionism in all its shapes, and for the freedom and independence of his Palestinian people and for social justice in the country and the world.

Cuba will win! Joint statement of Communist and Workers Parties

In a joint statement, more than 60 Communist and Workers' Parties express their solidarity to Cuba, denouncing the orchestrated provocation by the USA and counterrevolutionary groups. 

The statement reads: 

Hands Off Cuba! Solidarity statements from WFTU and PAME

In a statement about the recent imperialist-backed provocation against Cuba, the World Federation of Trade Unions (WFTU) points out:

The World Federation of Trade Unions, which is the militant voice of 105 million workers in 133 countries on five continents, conveys its internationalist solidarity to the Cuban workers and People. We strongly condemn the recent provocations orchestrated by counterrevolutionary elements in Cuba, organised and financed from the United States for destabilising purposes.

The world class-oriented trade union movement supports the Cuban People in their struggle against these actions. We demand the lifting of the criminal blockade that for 60 years has been creating serious problems for the economy and the lives of the Cuban people.

Cuba is not alone! Communist Parties condemn U.S-backed provocation against Cuba

Cuba, the Island of the Revolution, is not alone! Millions of people from all over the world denounce the U.S-backed imperialist provocation and express their solidarity to the government and the people of Cuba. 

 

"Cuba and its streets belong to the revolutionaries", underlined Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel.

In their statements, Communist and Workers Parties reaffirm their unequivocal solidarity towards Cuba, demand an end to the genocidal blockade imposed by the U.S. governments and point out that the destabilization attempts will fail. 

KKE: Solidarity with Cuba! Imperialist plans shall not pass!

In a statement about the recent imperialist counterrevolutionary provocation against Cuba, the Press Bureau of the CC of the Communist Party of Greece (KKE) points out:

"Another imperialist plan against Cuba and its people is ongoing during the past hours. The USA, in cooperation with anti-Cuban mafia operating on its territory as well as forces within Cuba openly supporting their plans, are orchestrating protests in Cuba with anti-communist and anti-revolutionary slogans calling for the overthrow of the government. They also magnify and surround these actions with media hype through their enormous propaganda apparatus. They even call for an imperialist “humanitarian intervention” in Cuba, under the pretext of addressing the difficulties caused by the imperialist US blockade itself!

Esther Bejarano, veteran communist and Auschwitz survivor, dies at 96

Veteran German communist and a life-long anti-fascist who survived Auschwitz concentration camp, Esther Bejarano died on Saturday 10 July, aged 96.

Born in 1924 as the daughter of Jewish cantor Rudolf Loewy in French-occupied Saarlouis, the family later moved to Saarbruecken, where Bejarano enjoyed a musical and sheltered upbringing until the Nazis came to power and the city was returned to Germany in 1935.

Large political rally by Greek and Turkish communists held in Lesvos: Socialism is the future!

Under the slogan “In Greece and Turkey, the enemy is the same: NATO – governments – capitalism! Socialism is the future!”, hundreds of communists from the two countries participated in a large rally held on Saturday 10 July in Mytilene, Lesbos, 

 

The rally was organized within the framework of the 30th Anti-imperialist camp of the Communist Youth of Greece (KNE). 

"The real enemy isn't the neighboring countries, but capitalism, its monopolies and their imperialist alliances", underlined Dimitris Koutsoumbas, the General Secretary of the CC of the Communist Party of Greece (KKE), during his greeting speech at Sappho Square in Mytilene. 

Democracy in Germany? Communist Party's activity banned

In an urgent message to communist and workers' parties, the German Communist Party (DKP) points out:

To the Communist and Workers’ Parties

Dear Comrades!

In the following, you will find the statement of the chairman of the German Communist Party Patrik Köbele on the notification of the Federal Election Commissioner that the DKP will not be admitted to the Bundestag elections in September, and at the same time will be deprived of its status as a political party. The allegedly late submission of financial statements is used as a pretext.

The 30th Anti-imperialist camp of KNE begins in Mytilene

Under the slogan “In Greece and Turkey, the enemy is the same: NATO – governments – capitalism! Socialism is the future!”, the 30th Anti-imperialist camp of the Communist Youth of Greece (KNE) begins today, 9 July, in Mytilene, Lesvos.

The first campers arrived on Thursday at the campsite at Tsamakia, close to Mytilene, 902 portal has reported. 

A delegation of the Communist Youth of Turkey (TKG) will participate in the events of the camp, which will conclude with a large political rally on Saturday 10 July, at 8 pm, at Sappho's Square in Mytilene.

Swaziland's King Mswati III regime intensifies oppression — Communist Party statement

In a statement addressed to all communist and workers' parties, the Communist Party of Swaziland refers to the current socio-political situation in the country. The statement reads:

"The Communist Party of Swaziland (CPS) calls on all communist and workers’ parties to be alert to and to express solidarity concerning the new situation in our country, as pro-democracy protests are now gathering pace, and as the autocratic regime of Mswati III is clamping down fiercely and bloodily on its opponents.

Raffaella Carra: “I always vote communist"

Within a period of a few months Italy lost two significant artists, two great singers, two socially and politically conscious women. 

The iconic "La Rossa" Milva died on 23 April 2021 while Raffaella Carrà, the talented singer, dancer, actress and TV presenter, passed away on June 5th, aged 78. 

Raffaella Maria Roberta Pelloni, as her full name was, will be remembered as an energetic, overwhelming and ingenious personality who became one of Italy's most beloved artists in the second half of the 20th century. 

Spain's Trans Law and the political opportunism of PSOE-UP government

Spain's Minister of Equality Irene Montero (right)

The social democratic Spanish government, consisting of PSOE and Unidad Podemos (UP), has passed a draft law, known as "Trans Law", that will allow citizens aged over 14 to change their gender without evidence.

Under the proposals, citizens will be able to change their name and gender without the need for proof or witnesses. The administrative procedure will also do away with health reports and the need for medical and legal guardianship.